May 14, 2009

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Owls head to the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships hosted by the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., confident, after following up their impressive showing at the Indoor conference championships earlier this year, with another strong Outdoor season.

The Owls will be led at the Outdoor Championships which are set to take place on May 15-16 by their distance corp. Sophomore, Mackenzie Howe has been a leader on the Owls all season, scoring numerous top finishes in both the 3k and 5k. Meanwhile, Erin Sutton has experienced just about as much success in the same races coming in right behind Howe.

Also on the track, the Owls will lean on the veteran leadership of sprinters Shantela Davis and Sandi Brown, while also looking towards their younger, very talented freshman runners, including Shelby Hines, Brittany Robinson, Victoria Jackson, and Naomi Mack.

Off the track, the Owls have looked strong as well this season. Jill Arthur and Suzzette Van-Lare have led the Owls in the long jump and the triple jump all season. At the Indoor conference championships earlier this year, Van-Lare finished second in the long jump, followed by Arthur in third, and vice versa in the triple jump, with Arthur taking second, with Van-Lare placing third.

Perhaps the Owls greatest strength during the Outdoor season, has come from their throwers. Most notable, has been Jessica Irizarry who set an NCAA Regional Mark in the javelin at the Seminole Invitational hosted by Florida State on April 10-11.

In addition, the Owls have gotten strong performances from both Jessica Lumpkin and Chiquita Hawthorne in throwing events as well this season.

In order to win their first conference title, the Owls will have to dethrone a Jacksonville dolphin team that has won three straight Outdoor Championships.

"Our women will be battling for several individual crowns, and of course they are looking forward to moving up from their seventh place finish last season," Head Coach Don McGarey said. "Our practice sessions on the track have been going extremely well. We are as prepared as we can be. The team is focused mentally and is at their peak physical form.

"It is the Championship. Everything is on the line and they know that."